What are Good Late Night Snacks?

onOctober 6, 2011

There are various reasons why we stay up late at night. We may be doing some work for school or the office. We could also stay up to watch a movie or a late night show. Whatever the reason may be, it’s always nice to have something to eat while stay up at night. But not all kinds of food are fit for eating at such time of the night. So, what are good late night snacks?

When you think of staying up late and watching your favorite shows on TV, you think of a big bag of chips or a box of pizza and some soda. And when you think of staying up for work, you can’t help picture out a cup of coffee beside your computer as you type your way through the night. They all seem to be good late night snacks to keep you up. But the problem is they keep you up all night. After turning off the computer or the television and your lying on your bed, these kinds of food still keep you awake. You don’t get a good sleep. So, which snacks should you be indulging yourself in late at night?

Snacks you SHOULD eat when staying up late

• Pretzels – Pretzels are baked snacks. They contain fewer calories compared to chips. So you get eat happily without worrying about the pounds.

• Cereal and Milk – Cereal and milk may not seem like fit for a midnight snack. But this is a perfect example of a good combination of starch and protein. Starch and protein are not just empty calories. They provide you with vitamins and minerals. Cereal and milk is also a good combination of carbohydrates and dairy. Carbohydrates complemented by dairy increase the level of the sleep-inducing tryptophan in the blood. It’s a nutritious combination that helps you sleep afterwards. Be sure to choose the cereal with little sugar in it. But if you do want to stay up all night, then those high-sugar cereals are perfect for you.

• Graham Crackers and Fruit Preserves – This combination of graham cracker dabbed with an all-fruit preserve may not be exactly a low-calorie snack. But this snack has a lot fewer calories from fat, which is a good thing for you.

• Air-popped Popcorn – Popcorn is the perfect move snack. It is also rich in fiber. But all those convenient microwaveable popcorns are full of fats. So instead of microwaving your popcorn, buy an air-popper for fat-free popcorn. And instead of loading it with butter, add garlic powder or some seasoned salt.

• Cheese Sandwich – Simply toast a slice of whole grain bread. Put a thin layer of spicy mustard on it and add a slice of cheese. Top it with some slices of tomatoes and onion rings. Then pop it into the oven toaster until the cheese has melted. It’s light and nutritious. And most of all, it tastes great.

• Ham and Grilled Cheese Sandwich – If you love to snack on pizza while watching those late night movies, here’s a better alternative. You still get the cheese and meat that you love from pizza but in a much controlled amount so it’s easier to digest. Keep in mind to use a whole wheat bread to make this snack even more nutritious and easier to digest.

• Fruit Juice Spritzers – Instead of chugging down a can of soda, try these fruit juice spritzers. Just fill in half a tall glass with your preferred fruit juice and top it off with flavored seltzer. Fruit juice spritzers contain much less calories and are caffeine-free.

Tips

There are a lot of various snacks that you could devour late at night. It’s difficult to enumerate which snacks are perfect for your late night feast. So here are some tips on what you should and shouldn’t do such hour.

• Avoid Caffeine – As much as possible, no taking of caffeine late at night. Caffeine increases your brain activity and so it keeps you up all night with all your thoughts racing through your head. It will be very difficult to sleep properly once you decide to go to bed. Caffeine also works as a diuretic. You don’t want to be waking up every now and then just to go to the bathroom. And remember, caffeine is not only found in coffee. Caffeine is also present in your sodas, teas, and chocolates.

• Avoid Spicy Foods – Too much spicy foods can be very discomforting once you lay down in bed, especially those prone to heartburn. These also work very much like caffeine. They can give you an endorphin rush, keeping your brain more active. Thus, making it difficult to fall asleep.

• Keep Your Snacks Light – Eating heavy meals can be difficult to digest. Foods high in protein take much more time to digest, so choose a snack with little protein in it. High-fat foods are also bad for late night snacking. High-fat foods can not only make you fat but also disrupt your sleep cycle. Eat a heavy meal at least 4 hours before you go sleep.

• Skip the Nightcap – Alcohol can make you fall asleep but it won’t be a good night sleep. Alcohol can cause you to wake up every now and then, headaches, nightmares, and night sweats. Now who would want to sleep like that?

It is important to watch what we eat late at night because what we eat affects our sleep. And because of the limited time to digest these foods, it can also cause a lot of health problems. Heavy late night snacking is one of the major cause of weight gain. When you are sleeping, you don’t get to burn the calories you get from the food as much as when you are awake.